Jamal Anderson close to joining Patriots

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Posted 6:24AM on Tuesday, August 27, 2002

FOXBORO, MASSACHUESETTS - Jamal Anderson is ready to join the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, looking to revive his career after eight seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. The former NFC rushing leader drew interest from New England and Indianapolis after being released by Atlanta. Anderson's agent said Monday a deal is in place with the Patriots. ``We've agreed in principle,'' James Sims said. ``It's looking pretty good.'' The Patriots, who are pleased with their three running backs, would not confirm an agreement with the unrestricted free agent. ``It was a tough decision,'' Anderson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as he boarded a flight for Boston on Monday. ``I looked at a number of teams that were interested in me, and I was going to visit them, but it looked too good in New England. ``They're the defending Super Bowl champions. They play on grass. It's important to me to go somewhere I can win, and with Antowain Smith being there, it's not like there's pressure for me to come in right away. I can work my way in,'' Anderson said. If he's healthy, the 29-year-old Anderson also would provide competition for running backs J.R. Redmond and Kevin Faulk. Coach Bill Belichick said Smith, who signed a long-term contract after rushing for a career-high 1,157 yards in his only season with New England, is ``way ahead of where he was last year.'' ``I really don't have any complaint with Antowain,'' he said. Redmond ``is one of our better backs in terms of blitz pickups,'' while Faulk is ``a hard worker'' with the versatility to catch, run and return kicks, the coach said. It's uncertain where Anderson would fit in, other than to provide depth in an already deep backfield. New England was one of six teams that showed interest in Anderson, Sims said. He refused to identify the other teams and declined to discuss details of the agreement. Sims did speak with Indianapolis, which lost running backs Dominic Rhodes and Brian Allen to season-ending knee injuries. The Colts need a backup to Edgerrin James, who is recovering from a left knee injury last year. James has practiced regularly but hasn't played in an exhibition game this year. The Colts, like the Falcons, play home games on artificial turf, which is much harder on the knees than grass. Anderson reached the Super Bowl in the 1998 season and had serious knee injuries in two of the next three years. He led the NFC in rushing in 1998 with 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns, his third straight 1,000-yard season. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early the next season. In 2000, he rushed for 1,024 yards, then tore the ACL in his left knee on Sept. 30, 2001. The Falcons released him in June. Anderson was a seventh-round pick by Atlanta out of Utah in 1994. He became a starter in 1996 when he rushed for 1,005 yards. He ran for 1,002 the next year before his big season in 1998. Last season, he rushed 55 times for 190 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass.